Shower mat of connected modular laundry bags

ABSTRACT

A plurality of modular laundry bags connected to form a shower mat. The modular units are attached in series at their lateral margins with hook-and-loop fasteners. Each bag has a zippered port for loading laundry into the bag, and a hanger strap for drip-drying the laundry. The bags have a porous upper membrane allowing water to enter the bags and a non-skid lower member for contact with a shower floor.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to shower mats and more specifically concerns a shower mat comprised of a laundry bag or bags.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Permeable mesh laundry bags have long been used as containers for washing soiled clothing. U.S. Pat. No. 3,036,616 teaches a multi-compartment washing unit that can be enclosed from the sides with a variety of different fasteners. U.S. pending Patent Application 20050084182 teaches a compartmentalized bag with a radial separation pattern. A washing and sorting bag is known which is subdivided into compartments that are closed by joints and slide fasteners which are arranged in a longitudinal side of the bag. Gelman Patent 2009/DE102009010386 teaches a compartmentalized bag that opens and closes with slide fasteners. European Patent 2631358 teaches a compartmentalized bag with a means of opening each compartment individually.

None of these arrangements, however, can be used as a shower mat for cleaning clothes.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention includes a laundering shower mat, comprising: at least one fabric bag defining an interior volume for clothing to be laundered, including a porous upper fabric member permitting water to flow into the volume area around the clothing therein and a non-skid lower member for contact with a shower floor, wherein compression by a user on the fabric bag during showering results in washing of the clothing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a shower mat with multiple laundry bags.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of a single bag.

FIG. 3 is an end elevation view of an empty single bag.

FIG. 4 is an end elevation view of a filled single bag.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5.5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of a hanger strap portion of a bag looped over a shower rod.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an empty single bag coiled and strapped into a compact roll.

FIG. 8 is a perspective end view of three filled bags configured as a pillow.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The preferred form of the device 10 (FIG. 1) consists of four rectangular bag units 11 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4), connected in series, with top panels made of woven mesh fabric 12 and lower or under panels made of coated antiskid mesh fabric 13. The top panels 12 are two inches longer and wider than the under panels 11, and their corners are pleated at 14, so that the units appear flat when empty (FIG. 3) and expand into semi-cylindrical compartments when filled with laundry 15 (FIG. 4). This shape allows the under panels 13 to lie relatively flat against the shower or bath floor and fulfill their antiskid function. The individual units (FIG. 2) in the embodiment shown are 18 inches long, 6 inches wide and two inches deep at the midline of their filled compartments 15, although these dimensions could be changed.

Hook-and-loop touch fasteners are located along their lateral margins, including a full length strip of the loop component sewn facing upward onto each right lateral margin 16, and five equally spaced strips of the hook component sewn facing downward onto each left lateral margin 17. Connection of these fasteners forms a flexible junction between each unit 11, allowing for easy separation when the fasteners are lifted or pulled apart. The width and laundering capacity of the mat can be adjusted by adding or removing individual units. Thus, three connected units comprise a mat 10 that measures 18×18 inches, and four units comprise a mat that measures 18×24 inches (FIG. 1). Each compartment 15 has a volume of two quarts (FIG. 4); hence, a four-unit mat can contain up to two gallons of laundry when loosely filled. During the shower or bath, the filled mat 10 provides a comfortable standing or sitting platform, and footsteps or body movement on the loosely filled compartments 15 (FIG. 4) compress and flush water through the contained laundry bags.

Each bag is reinforced with biased hems around its margins 19, and each has a zippered portal 20 located along the right side of its top panel, for loading and unloading the laundry. The ends of the zippers are reinforced with stitched ribbon patches 21 and 22, and the upper patch 22 is configured as a covered pocket to cushion the slide when the zipper is closed. Each unit has an 8-inch hanger strap 23 stitched to the one end 23A of the under panel 13. The strap is comprised of the loop component of a hook-and-loop fastener strip, and has a patch or portion of the hook component 24 stitched to its proximal end, so that the strap can be fastened as a closed loop 25 over a shower rod 26 for draining and drip-drying the bag unit (FIG. 6). Each strap 23 also has a section 28 at its distal end that is doubled over and stitched, exposing the loop fastener surface on both sides 27, thus enabling the strap to function in reverse, so that the empty units can be coiled and strapped for storage (FIG. 7).

A variety of alternative fabrics and fasteners could be used to make this device. Open-end separating zippers could be used to attach the units together. However, the preferred embodiment incorporates hook-and-loop touch fasteners 16, 17, because they are easy to attach and more comfortable underfoot. The preferred fabric for the top panels 12 is a non-coated cloth mesh of woven synthetic fiber, as is commonly used in most currently marketed laundry bags. The preferred fabric for the under panels 13 is an antiskid mesh of synthetic fiber that is coated with a heat-bonded plastic foam and has a gripping surface similar to natural rubber. The preferred portal fastener is a narrow closed-bottom zipper 20, approximately nine inches long, that opens downward and is positioned 1½ inches to the right of the unit midline 28 for easy loading.

The primary advantage/utility of this device (FIG. 1) is to cleanse soiled clothing while the user takes a shower or bath. Small laundry articles, such as hosiery, t-shirts and undergarments, are loaded loosely into each bag unit in even distribution (FIG. 4). The filled units are fastened together in series at their hook and loop edges 16, 17 and the assembled mat (FIG. 1) is placed at the edge of the drain on the standing zone of the shower floor. The mat is soaked and a stripe of liquid soap or detergent is applied over each unit. As the shower progresses, the soapy water permeates the compartments 15 and each compression cleanses and subsequently rinses the laundry.

A second advantage/utility is for the individual units to function as permeable and compressible envelopes (FIGS. 2 and 4) for wringing excess water out of the washed and rinsed laundry.

A third advantage/utility is for the filled units (FIGS. 2 and 4) to function as permeable envelopes for hanging and initially drip drying the laundry (FIG. 6). Each unit can be hung from a shower rod 26 or clothesline by suspending it with its hanger strap 23, and can be used to conceal personal garments from public display during the initial drying process. Progressive wringing of excess water that collects in the dependent portion of the bag hastens the drying process, and individual garments can then be removed for final drying as needed.

A fourth advantage/utility is for the units (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) to function as convenient dry storage bags (FIGS. 2 and 4) for packing and organizing travel apparel.

A fifth advantage/utility of the connected device is to function as a travel pillow. A series of three or more filled units can be rolled into a cylindrical shape and fastened at their exposed edges with their compartments 15 facing outward, thus forming a comfortable head cushion (FIG. 8).

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in the embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention, which is defined by the claims which follow. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A laundering shower mat, comprising: at least one fabric bag defining an interior volume for clothing to be laundered, including a water-porous upper fabric member permitting water to flow into the volume area around the clothing therein and a non-skid opposing lower member, the fabric bag shaped to lie flat for contact between the lower member with a shower floor, wherein compression by a user on the fabric bag during showering results in washing of the clothing.
 2. The shower mat of claim 1, including a plurality of fabric bags fastened releasably together.
 3. The shower mat of claim 2, wherein the fabric bags include identical separate units attachable in succession by releasable fasteners.
 4. The shower mat of claim 3, wherein the releasable fasteners are zippers.
 5. The shower mat of claim 3, wherein the releasable fasteners are hook-and-loop elements.
 6. The shower mat of claim 1, wherein the fabric bag is rectangular.
 7. The shower mat of claim 1, wherein the fabric bag has pleated corners.
 8. The shower mat of claim 1, including zipper access into the interior volume in the upper fabric member.
 9. The shower mat of claim 8, wherein the zipper access is off-center of the fabric bag.
 10. The shower mat of claim 1, including a strap extending from one end of the fabric bag, wherein a proximal end of the strap is fixedly attached to the fabric bag, and wherein the strap includes a loop portion along one side thereof and a hook portion on an opposing side at a free end thereof.
 11. The shower mat of claim 1, including three or more fabric bags connected together to form a pillow. 